Benefits Bangladesh may draw from UNTWO
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
Bangladesh can expect a lot for the development of its tourism sector from Taleb Rifai, the new Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The tourism authority of Bangladesh should prepare a pro-tourism development policy for technical and human resource support in the view of reshuffling the basic tourism infrastructure of the country.
The 85th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, meeting in Mali, aptly recommends Taleb Rifai for the post as Secretary-General for the four-year-period starting January 2010. He was born in Jordan in the year 1949 and served as Deputy Secretary-General from February 2006 to February 2009.
Mr Rifai has an extensive background in international and national public service, the private sector and even in the academia. Prior to joining UNWTO, he was the Assistant Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Mr. Rifai has also served in several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan, for example, as Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Minister for Information and Minister for Tourism and Antiquity.
As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jordan's Cement Company, Mr Rifai successfully led the first large-scale privatization and restructuring scheme in Jordan during the mid 1990s. Other positions he has held include: Director of the Economic Mission to Washington DC and Director General of the Investment Promotion Corporation of Jordan.
Until 1993, Mr Rifai was involved in research, teaching and practicing Architecture and Urban Design in Jordan and the USA. He is a PhD in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, an MA in Engineering and Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and a BSc in Architectural Engineering from the University of Cairo in Egypt.
Bangladesh, as a member state of UNWTO, OIC and Red Crescent, carries a lot of significance for Taleb Rifai, the new secretary general of the UN's tourism body. To increase its rapport with Mr. Rifai, the government may also invite him on any national occasion of the country. Through such overture, our tourism sector may benefit from his wealth of experience to create a road map for its further development.
Bangladesh can expect a lot for the development of its tourism sector from Taleb Rifai, the new Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The tourism authority of Bangladesh should prepare a pro-tourism development policy for technical and human resource support in the view of reshuffling the basic tourism infrastructure of the country.
The 85th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, meeting in Mali, aptly recommends Taleb Rifai for the post as Secretary-General for the four-year-period starting January 2010. He was born in Jordan in the year 1949 and served as Deputy Secretary-General from February 2006 to February 2009.
Mr Rifai has an extensive background in international and national public service, the private sector and even in the academia. Prior to joining UNWTO, he was the Assistant Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Mr. Rifai has also served in several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan, for example, as Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Minister for Information and Minister for Tourism and Antiquity.
As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jordan's Cement Company, Mr Rifai successfully led the first large-scale privatization and restructuring scheme in Jordan during the mid 1990s. Other positions he has held include: Director of the Economic Mission to Washington DC and Director General of the Investment Promotion Corporation of Jordan.
Until 1993, Mr Rifai was involved in research, teaching and practicing Architecture and Urban Design in Jordan and the USA. He is a PhD in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, an MA in Engineering and Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and a BSc in Architectural Engineering from the University of Cairo in Egypt.
Bangladesh, as a member state of UNWTO, OIC and Red Crescent, carries a lot of significance for Taleb Rifai, the new secretary general of the UN's tourism body. To increase its rapport with Mr. Rifai, the government may also invite him on any national occasion of the country. Through such overture, our tourism sector may benefit from his wealth of experience to create a road map for its further development.